made most, not fluent 3 out, ridden before last, kept on well
tracked leaders in 3rd and in rear, pushed along 6 out, soon weakened
disputed lead, mistake 4 out, ridden and not fluent last, one pace
The Last Samuri will likely be a short price but is no certainty giving weight to ISLAND HEIGHTS. Donald McCain's charge was a useful hurdler last season but was lucky to win over fences at Bangor when his only rivals fell when leading at the last. He may need a bit more time and Lucinda Russell's six-year-old is improving judged on his run behind Royal Player at Musselburgh, where he would have got closer to the winner had he not breasted the last. Finaghy Ayr was well behind The Last Samuri over timber at Catterick last season but did go on to score here later.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 1-3fav (11-2) Tracked leader, shaken up 4 out, ridden bend before 2 out, driven and 2 lengths down when left clear last, won at Bangor 3m nov chs (3) sft in Nov, 2 ran.
Finaghy Ayr (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Prominent, led 3rd until before 4th, led 5th until after 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Vivaldi Collonges (11-6) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Island Heights (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) In rear, mistake 12th, headway before 4 out, hit last, kept on to chase winner run-in, no impression, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Royal Player (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
Castle Goer (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, bad mistake 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Killeena House (11-7) at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl in Dec, 29 ran.
